to Buffalo Shoals there were numerous bad shoals, rendering naviga tion very uncertain. From Buffalo Shoals to Forsythe, Mo., there wer many fine reaches of river, but the depth of water on Buffalo Shoal and others prevented any navigation at ordinary stages of water. Up to June 30, 1888, $51,359.65 had been expended. This complete the survey, plotted the notes, published the maps, effectively improve the most dangerous shoals between Buffalo Shoals and Batesville, r moved the more dangerous snags from Batesville to the mouth, and le a small balance, $1,652.35. It was deemed advisable to reserve th small balance, as it could be used more effectively for permanent in provement. By the act of August 11, 1888, $25,000 was appropriated; $58,00 was specified as the sum which could be properly expended the fir fiscal year. The present plan provides for the maintenance, at lo water, of a channel 2 feet deep between Newport and Buffalo Shoal and a channel of not less than 5 feet deep at low water, from Newpor to the mouth, and also for a limited amount of snagging operation while these improvements are in progress. The result between Newpor and Buffalo Shoals is to be accomplished by the erection of solid win dams and some rock excavations. From Newport to the mouth is be accomplished by the erection of low permeable spur-dikes to giv the necessary depth of water to the shoals, yet not to remove the shoa to a point below, or to cave the opposite banks. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $10,066.12 was expende in the construction and equipment of six barges, a floating pile-drive repairs to the quarter-boat, care of property, and snagging operation between Batesville and the mouth. The season at which low water o curs precluded any additional work advantageously and economicall Everything is in order to begin work when next low-water season a rives. Great commercial interests due to inexhaustible mineral resources a concentrated upon the immediate improvement of this river. The in provements will be of a very permanent character. To save all expense of caring for plant and repairing the same duri the interval of two or more appropriations, it would be more economic and advantageous to make all the balance available in one season. least $60,000 should be made available for the fiscal year ending Ju 30, 1891. July 1, 1888, amount available... $1,652. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... 25,000. 26,652. July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities.. $10, 066. 12 10,394. July 1, 1889, balance available 16, 257. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... 83,815. Amount (estimated) required for snagging annually.. 8,000. Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 60,000. Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix X 7.) 8. Cache River, Arkansas.-The appropriation available is the fi ever made for this reach of river. Prior to the work its channel w choked with logs and snags, overhanging trees interfered with t smokestacks of steamers, and several shoals obstructed the low-water navigation. The present project proposes the removal of the logs, snags, and overhanging trees, from the town of Riverside, Ark., to the mouth of the river. This operation will incidently improve the shoals, as they are caused in the majority of cases by an accumulation of logs. Seven thousand dollars was the amount appropriated, $3,000 for the construction of a snag-boat, $4,000 for its operating expenses. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $3,970.06 was expended building the snag-boat Riverside, equipping the same, and carrying out the provisions of the project. Continuous low-water season beginning late in the fiscal year, little time was had for removing obstructions. Work done being within the estimate, it is expected that the work required will be completed with the present appropriation. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 189, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. Jaly 1, 189, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1889, balance available... (See Appendix X 8.) $7,000.00 $3,970.06 4,378.70 2,621.30 9. Black River, Arkansas and Missouri.-Before any improvements were made upon this river its channel was choked with logs and snags, and obstructed by overhanging trees, and in many places shoals interferred with its navigation at low water by any but very light-draught ats. The original plan for its improvement contemplated the removal of the obstructions and the improvement of the shoals, the latter by wing-dams. A few sloughs were to be closed so as to confine the water to the main channel. Up to June 20, 1888, $56,242.40 had been expended for these. purposes, and good progress made toward connecting with some detached work near Poplar Bluff, Mo., i. e., only 60 miles of unworked river intervenes. By act of August 11, 1888, $5,000 was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $2,121.19 was expended in carrying out the original project. The stage of water being too high for effective work, the balance is held for the next low-water season, which occurs in July and August. It is hoped that this balance with that for improving Black River, Missouri, will open in a general way the reach specified. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... Jay 1, 189, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 ..... July 1, 1889, balance available...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, annually See Appendix X 9.) $5,000.00 2, 121. 19 2, 878.81 8,000.00 8,000,00 10. Black River, Missouri.-The first improvements attempted upon this reach of river were made in the years 1881 and 1882. Prior to this Work its channel was choked with logs and snag, and obstructed by erhanging trees, and in many places shoals interfered with its navition at low water by any but very light-draught boats, The original plan for its improvement contemplated the removal o the obstructions, and the improvement of the shoals, the latter by wing dams. A few sloughs were to be closed up, so as to confine the wate to the main channel. Up to June 30, 1888, $6,000 had been expended which had opened up about 20 miles of river from Poplar Bluff toward the mouth. Owing to the difficulty in getting suitable appliances up to this reach, it was carried on under great disadvantages. During fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, the snag-boat Henry Sheldo (specially constructed for use on this river) was worked to Poplar Bluf from below and operated from there down the river, expending $6,562.30 rapidly and effectively clearing the reach worked of obstructions erecting a strong dam (at the head of Dan River, a chute of the Black River), raising the water in the other chute, and carrying the work to the Arkansas State line, removing the greater part of the dangerous snags and making a good beginning upon overhanging timber. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888.. liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, balance available....... Amount (estimated) required annually. $7,000.00 $6,562.30 6,800, 80 199.20 8,000.00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix X 10.) 11. St. Francis River, Arkansas.-The first appropriation was made March 2, 1833, prior to which this river was choked with drift-piles, logs, snags, and its waters spread out through a great variety of sloughs, while overhanging trees added to the difficulty of navigation. The originally adopted project was principally for snagging operations, and attempts have been made to close up some of the many sloughs. Appropriations for this river having been united with the White River, exactly how much had been expended upon the St. Francis River to June 30, 1884, can not well be stated. July 5, 1884, the first separate appropriation was made, amounting to $12,000. August 5, 1886, $8,000 more followed. By act of August 11, 1888, $4,000 was appropriated. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $1,888.77 has been expended in the continuance of the original project. July 1, 1888, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888 July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.... July 1, 1889, balance available..... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project, annually (See Appendix X 11.) $3.3 4,000.00 4,003. 38 1,888.77 2, 114.61 8,000.00 8,000.00 12. St. Francis River, Missouri.-The appropriation available is the first ever made for this reach of river. Prior to the work done in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, its channel was choked with logs and snags; overhanging trees interfered with smoke-stacks, and several shoals interfered with low-water navigation. The estimate, $3,700, proposed the removal of the shoals about 12 miles below Greenville and the removal of snags and other obstructions only, as the amount appropriated, $5,000, by act of August 11, 1888, is not large enough to warrant attempting the shoals also. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $3,062.21 was expended cutting a channel through 600 feet of drift-wood and carrying out the other provisions of project. Much delay was experienced, due to the obstruction offered by the railroad bridge over the St. Francis River at St. Francis. It was necessary to dismantle the boat and rebuild it in order to pass the bridge. From progress made in the work so far it would appear that the snagging and removal of overhanging timber will be practically completed on present appropriation. To complete it and remove the shoals and care for the property in the interim, the balance originally estimated, $2,300, and $200 as a contingent, will be required. Amount appropriated by act of August 11, 1888... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888 $5,000.00 July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... $3,062. 21 3,468.96 July 1, 1889, balance available.... 1,531. 04 2,500.00 2,500.00 (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project ... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1891 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (Sce Appendix X 12.) 13. Little River, Missouri and Arkansas.-Before improvement this river was obstructed by snags, logs, masses of drift-wood, and shoals, and was divided into two chutes. The project for improvement contemplates prolonging medium-stage navigation by closing one of the chutes and removing the obstructions enumerated from the other. The snag boat for this work not being available, no work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. The work will probably be begun within the next six or eight months. The appropriation of the balance of the $8,000 is recommended. Amount appropriated by act of Angust 11, 1888 ... July 1, 1889, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888... $5,000.00 29.69 July 1, 1889, balance available 4,970.31 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... 3,000,00 3,000.00 (See Appendix X 13.) REMOVING SNAGS AND WRECKS FROM THE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI OF OSAGE Officer in charge, Maj. A. M. Miller, Corps of Engineers. Division Engineer, since December 3, 1888, Col. C. B. Comstock, Corps of Engineers. 1. Removing snags and wrecks from the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.— Mississippi River-The navigation on this river was greatly hampered ENG 89-15 by the numerous snags, logs, etc., which were lodged in the channel, and to which a new accession was brought down on each rise of the river, thus constantly adding new and unknown obstructions to those already there. A large number of wrecks also occupied the channel and were very dangerous to the safety of passing boats. For the removal of these obstructions appropriations were made as early as 1824, and the project consisted in building boats suitable for removing the snags, etc., and operating them whenever the stage of water was favorable for the work and funds were available. The total amount expended for this purpose can not be definitely given, as previous to the appropriation made by act of March 3, 1879, a general amount was appropriated to be applied to several streams as their needs required. From March 3, 1879, when the first specific appropriation was made, up to June 30. 1888, $565,428.16 was expended for this purpose. The navigation of the river has been very materially improved by this method, and the danger of accidents to boats lessened. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $67,511.37 was expended. Three snag-boats were employed between the mouth of the Missouri River and Natchez, Miss., removing obstructions. The boats worked for a total of nine and one-half months, removing 1,864 snags, cutting down 9,102 trees, removing 34 drift piles and 8 wrecks, and traveling a distance of 6,030 miles, thereby greatly benefiting navigation and com merce. Much needed repairs were also made to the snag-boats and they are now in good condition to resume work as soon as the stage of water will permit. An annual appropriation having been made for carrying on this work no further estimate is submitted. July 1, 1889, amount expended during the fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1888.. July 1, 1889, outstanding liabilities... July 1, 1889, balance available.... (See Appendix Y 1.) $3,772, 47 100, 000, 00 103, 772. 47 .... $67, 511.37 70, 800.52 32, 971.95 Missouri River.-The necessity for the improvement of this stream was first recognized in 1832, as its navigation was rendered difficult and dangerous by numerous snags, etc., in the channel, and leaning timber on the banks of the river. The plan adopted for its improvement was the removal of these obstructions by snag-boats, and they have been used to great advantage. The first appropriations having been made so as to cover the needs of several streams, the total amount expended on this river for the removal of obstructions can not be given. Since June 18, 1878, when the first specific appopriation was made, up to June 30, 1888, $459,751.75 was expended in that manner, greatly improving navigation during the low-water season. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, $765.45 was expended in watching and caring for snag-boats. By the terms of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, this work was placed under the Missouri River Commission, and the snagboat C. R. Suter, and other property belonging to the work was transferred to Lieut. Col. C. R. Suter, Corps of Engineers, president Missouri |